Protecting Livestock From Heat

PROVIDE SHADE AND NIGHT-TIME COOLING

If animals are kept outside, provide shade during hot weather. Heat from the sun is a major culprit in overstressed animals.

Swine may sunburn during hot, sunny weather. Try to keep them out of the sun. Sun shades can cut the radiant heat load by as much as 40 percent. Pasture wallows are also effective for sunburn protection

and wet skin cooling.

Turn cows outside at night to cool them and cool the barn. Since animals cool themselves primarily through breathing, barns tend to get warm and humid quickly.

PROVIDE ADEQUATE WATER

Ample drinking water is vital to animals during hot and humid conditions.Animals cool themselves by panting (water loss from the lungs) and through water evaporation from the skin. Increased respiration during hot weather is especially important for pigs and other animals that do not sweat. Animals must replace the water loss to cool themselves.

Maintain access to water. Provide troughs and buckets for drinking so animals can meet their requirements during hot weather.

Keep water containers clean.

Adjust the drinking space for the size and number of animals in thepen or group. Excessive volumes of water grow warm and stale throughout the day. 

Check the water delivery systems periodically for plugs or other problems.

If necessary, spray water on animals to cool them.

PROVIDE GOOD VENTILATION

Proper ventilation helps maintain livestock health during hot and humid weather. Without adequate air exchanges and airflow distribution within livestock buildings, heat and moisture accumulate and animal production is affected. 

BE WATCHFUL

Use the temperature humidity index as a guide to heat stress. If still available, listen to local or regional weather reports for the temperature humidity index (THI) for your area. Some levels of concern include:

a) Above 75 THI - Heat stress on high-producing cows begins to decrease feed intake and lower milk production.

b) Above 80 THI - Severe heat stress may occur for cows on pasture. Shade and adequate ventilation are essential to minimize milk loss.

c) Above 83-85 THI - Danger of fatal heat stress occurs.

Keep an eye on animals. If heat stress is a concern, check animal temperature. Dairy cow temperatures approaching 104 to 106 degrees F. are dangerous. At 107 degrees F., spontaneous heart failure is possible. Use methods listed above to keep animals cool.

To Be Continued...